A theology instructor was lecturing on the theme of the Good Shepherd for his class on the New Testament. He asked the student, “I don’t think anyone here has ever been a shepherd, have you?” My uncle, Brother Senan, ST, hesitated and then raised his hand. He had been a Missionary Brother for many years at that point and had had a variety of experiences. He relayed the story to the class of being assigned to a mission in rural Pennsylvania as a very young Brother. The place had a farm, and sheep were among the animals kept there. Having been raised in an apartment in a working- class neighborhood in New York City, he had little experience with animals. Nevertheless, he was put in charge of the sheep. With a few instructions he went out to get started. No one had warned him about the importance of keeping the gate closed. In the pen was a ewe with her small lamb. When he tried to approach them, the ewe took off with the lamb close behind. They ran out to the wide pasture and kept running. He ran after them, but they were fast. The ewe stopped occasionally to nurse the lamb giving him time only to catch his breath, but not to catch them. After what seemed an eternity, he finally overtook them and scooped up the lamb in his arms. The ewe followed close behind back to the pen. His experience mirrors what we hear in St. John’s Gospel (Jn 10:1-10) when Jesus reminds the Pharisees that sheep only follow the voice of their own shepherd. “The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run from him.” Likely, the sheep had known the voice of the older Brother who proceeded Brother Senan as shepherd, but ran away at the sound of this new, strange voice.
The theme of the Good Shepherd in St. John’s Gospel continues in verses 11-18, when Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me” With time and patience, the sheep came to recognize the voice Brother Senan as their shepherd. Now, some 60 years and many other mission experiences later, he recalls the experience with a smile saying, “I can understand why Our Lord loved the sheep, they are such gentle creatures.”
At the Midday Divine Office of Saturday, we join the Psalmist in saying, “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, because your commandments I do not forget” (Psalm 119: vs.176). No matter how far we wander, we have a Good Shepherd who will never give up on searching and calling us by name.
By Sister Eileen M. Gallagher, OSB